Number of guests

Farquhar Atoll

Species that call Farquhar and her rich waters home include: Bonefish, various Trevallys, including ferocious trophy-sized Giant Trevally, the finicky Indo-Pacific Permit, Triggerfish, Barracuda, Bumphead, Parrotfish and Milkfish. Fishing is accessed with 17 foot skiffs with 90 hp Yamaha outboards. Fishing is done by mostly wading and some from the boat.

Arrivals and Departures

All trips run Saturday to Saturday as there is a once weekly charter to Farquhar.

Accomodations

Accommodations are in a basic, but comfortable, guest house. There are five rooms, each with private bath and all have A/C. There is a main lounge common area. Breakfast and dinner are served in the covered outside dining area overlooking the water.

Non Anglers / Activities

This is for anglers only.

Airport / Logistics

It is recommended that you arrive in Mahe on Friday to not miss the charter on Saturday. The 290 mile flight to Farquhar takes 1:45. On the return charter, you will arrive back in Mahe mid afternoon. The flights leave Mahe in the AM, so you will have an overnight.

Climate

This part of the Seychelles is about 5 degrees south of the equator. The weather is quite consistent October to May. The potential cyclone months are June into September. Temperatures range from the mid 70's to low 90's.

Included

Roundtrip flight from from Mahe to Farquhar, 6 days of guided fishing, fishing license, all meals, mineral water, soft drinks and accommodations.

You should not exchange currency as the hotels etc cannot accept it from foreigners. The lodge does not take credit cards but hotels and restaurants on Mahe do. Gratuities should be paid in US dollars or Euros.

Gratuities

Bring cash for gratuities as they cannot accept credit cards. This is a higher-end flyfishing trip so the gratuity guide lines reflect that. It is suggested at a minimum that each angler tip the guide $50 per day, and the staff $150 + for the week.

Medical Facilities

The nearest hospital is in Mahe, a one hour flight away. If it is serious you may want to look at flying to South Africa. Medevac insurance is mandatory.

Documentation

A passport valid for 6 months is the only thing required for the Seychelles.

Beverages

Alcoholic beverages are not included. The lodge will have plenty of beer. If you have a favorite spirit you should bring it.

Laundry

The lodge does laundry for a small charge.

Phone, Internet, Power

Phone: paid phone

Internet: paid internet

Power: 220 volts

Farquhar has some of the finest and most productive flats in the Indian Ocean. These flats consist of hard white sand, turtle grass and broken coral, which make for comfortable wading. Anglers can wade and sight fish to an impressive variety of species which include Bonefish, various Trevally species including the ferocious trophy sized Giant Trevally, the finicky Indo-Pacific Permit, Triggerfish, Barracuda, Bumphead Parrotfish and Milkfish. Farquhar is certainly best known for the sheer diversity of species it offers anglers fortunate enough to visit her shores, so if stalking Bonefish in skinny water, throwing crab flies at the colourful and charismatic tailing Triggerfish or holding your nerve as a large GT charges in at your fly interests you, then Farquhar is the place to go.

Deep water begins very close to shore and spending some time tussling with some of the monsters which prowl the deep blue is certainly a very exciting and rewarding bonus. Here the most common species encountered are Giant Trevally, Barracuda, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Dogtooth Tuna, Grouper, Bohar Snapper and Sailfish.

Whether it’s on the flats or offshore, the Fly Castaway guides will help you identify your desired target species and the areas that they frequent, and explain the techniques needed to catch them. They will, without question, go the extra mile for your fish of a lifetime. The season runs from early November to mid December and then from late February to mid April. These are the peak periods for weather and fishing.

All guests will use the new 17 ft Angler skiffs, each powered by a 90 HP Yamaha. These boats have been specifically designed and fitted to fish both the flats and offshore waters of the Seychelles in comfort and safety. These Angler boats have a draft of approximately 9 inches allowing anglers to access some extremely shallow areas of the atoll, however the main attraction still lies in wading the flats. Each boat is skippered by a professional Fly Castaway guide.

Farquhar Atoll is the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles chain of islands lying 440 miles to the southwest of the main island, Mahe. This remote atoll has a large lagoon, 11 miles north to south and 5.6 miles east to west. The main group of islands forms a long curve which flanks the eastern side of the atoll. The large ear-shaped lagoon provides easy access to the countless flats, channels and surf zones that make Farquhar such a diverse fishery. Farquhar has a small population of local Seychellois.

Accommodations on Farquhar are at a basic but comfortable. Everyone is accommodated in the main lodge, which is fully air-conditioned and has four twin en-suite bedrooms and a central lounge. There is full housekeeping as well as a daily laundry service available. A covered dining area at the water’s edge has a magnificent view and is an idyllic setting for both breakfast and dinner. The meals are a mix of Creole and international food. Mineral water and soft drinks are included in the package. The lodge has plenty of local beer for sale. Spirits and wine may be pre-ordered or may bring your own. Your biggest concern however should be your selection of 12 wt rods and reels and if will they be up to fighting the GT’s.